Posted Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Helen's Crafts has been selling on Etsy since August 2010, she specialize in making adorable crochet baby hats with quality yarn and threads. Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.

What motivated you to start your shop?

I learned to crochet, knit, and sew as a child. Craft was a big part of my childhood, and my mom encouraged creativity in her children. I worked professionally for several years in the sewing and crochet world, where I learned how to present crafts to the public. For a long while my friend Donna encouraged me to share my crochet skills by opening an Etsy shop. In 2010 I finally took the plunge and opened Helen's Crafts. I have chosen to make baby and children's hats, using my four beautiful grandchildren as inspiration for my creations.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

The biggest surprise was how much time is required to maintain my shop. I had not realized the time necessary to list the items, work on photography, get orders through the "shipping department," etc., etc. There is always something behind the scenes that needs to be attended to. It takes almost as much time to keep the shop running as it does to make products for the shop.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

Trying to keep on top of SEO (search engine optimization). It is a constant struggle to try and keep my shop relevant. And there is always something to learn about how to get my shop "found." There are so many good shops on Etsy, that if you don't keep on top of it, your shop will quickly drop through the cracks.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I believe in giving my customers a quality product at the very best price. I try to treat all my customers as I would like to be treated. One of my pet peeves is when I order something online and it takes weeks to receive my order. I make it a priority to get orders in the mail within a maximum of 3 days.

How would someone (other then you) describe you?

I have been described as competent, self assured, and artistic. My family often call me stubborn!

What do you do when you aren't working?

When I'm not working on my Etsy shop I often find myself crocheting owl hats for my grandchildren. I have four grandchildren, and they are always letting granny know what colors they would like for their new hats. If there is time left after all the owl hats, I have a passion for knitting socks for myself.

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my Etsy shop is when a customer sends me a picture of their precious baby wearing one of my creations.

Helen's Crafts is offering 15% discount to our blog reader. To use the coupon, visit her etsy store and enter code 'ETSYKIDS15' at checkout. The voucher is valid until Friday 22nd February 2013.